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Steve Tandy, the head coach of Wales, officially begins his new position today, at the height of the most turbulent eras in Welsh rugby.
More than five months after Warren Gatland’s departure, Tandy was appointed as the new permanent men’s boss.
Tandy was required to sign a three-year deal with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), which required him to leave his Scottish contract as a defence coach.
As he begins a job that WRU CEO Abi Tierney claims he felt “destined,” he is taking on a huge task.
dealing with the most recent crisis in Welsh rugby
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Tandy is experiencing yet another Welsh crisis before considering his first game against Argentina in more than two months.
Tandy’s understanding of the Welsh game was one of the factors in choosing him over a seasoned national head coach with previous experience. He will require it.
Before leaving Welsh rugby in 2018, Tandy joined the Waratahs, Scotland, and the British and Irish Lions, where he spent six years with the Ospreys.
He is familiar with the business environment, and Gatland is expected to follow a more uniform approach.
Director of rugby and top performance Dave Reddin praised Steve for his ability to work together.
Because it should be a fundamental competitive advantage for Wales, we want to incorporate that throughout the entire system.
Tandy will understand that since he left, the domestic situation has deteriorated rapidly.
The WRU announced last month that its preferred method for changing the club game would be to reduce the number of men’s professional teams in Wales from four to two after admitting the current funding model is unsustainable.
The radical changes are being driven by chair Richard Collier-Keywood and recently appointed Reddin, with chief executive Abi Tierney taking a temporary leave of absence as she goes through cancer treatment.
By the end of the 2027-28 season or sooner, the union will begin formal consultation with Wales’ four regional clubs and other important players, with a decision expected in October.
With fewer teams and job losses in store, Tandy will have to deal with the uncertainty his players will encounter when they are brought together.
Players begin their pre-season training camp the following weekend without knowing whether the organization they represent will be around the entire year.
Backroom boys
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Tandy must first put together his backroom staff.
Reddin claims that Tandy will handle that task differently and that it will be more of a team effort.
Matt Sherratt, the interim head coach between Gatland and Tandy, served as Cardiff’s interim coach.
After Gatland’s former backroom staff of Jonathan Humphreys, Mike Forshaw, Rob Howley, Alex King, and Neil Jenkins were removed, Danny Wilson, Adam Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Rhys Thomas, and Leigh Halfpenny were Sherratt’s lieutenants in Japan.
Since then, Howley has left rugby and Forshaw has moved to Leicester.
Although the majority of the coaches are contracted to clubs, Sherratt has been identified as a potential attack expert for Tandy’s setup. The WRU was impressed with the other coaches as well.
Gethin Jenkins plays in the Cardiff set-up, and Thomas plays for Gloucester, where Wilson and Jones serve as head coaches and scrum coaches, respectively.
As the WRU bargains for the people it wants, Reddin acknowledged that there might need to be some interim appointments for the autumn series.
However, he emphasized that being a part-timer in the long run was not a part-time position.
Working for the Wales national team is a full-time position, according to Reddin.
A challenging schedule for the fall
Wales have turned to Tandy to stop a downward trend that has seen them finish last at the bottom of the last two Six Nations Championships and drop to 12th overall.
Tandy’s opening game will be a baptism of fire, with his first game against Argentina on November 9 and subsequent games against Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa, who are already world champions.
Before the 2027 World Cup draw is held in December, these will be the final games.
To ensure a more favorable draw, Tandy and Wales will know they will at least need to remain in that top 12.
Although I don’t want to be enthralled by the results in the fall, Steve’s new administration will use them as a fantastic benchmark, Reddin said.
As we begin making plans for the 2027 World Cup and beyond, that will give us a clear indication of where we stand.
An impossible task
Tandy’s appointment has caused a stir on social media, with Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend disappointed about his loss.
Views range from underwhelming to asserting that he is the right choice at the right time.
Tandy, 45, is aware that Welsh rugby frequently generates debate, and the former no-nonsense flanker will need thick skin to play the part.
Reddin disagrees with some who have made the claim that this is impossible to do.
He said, “From my point of view, I don’t believe it’s at all possible.”
For the next ten years, will Wales consistently be ranked as the world’s number one team? No, I don’t believe so.
However, are we a top-five nation capable of bringing together the best of the world in a real fight for the title of Six Nations? 100%. Without that, I wouldn’t be here.
Tandy will need to win over the doubters, and delivering results will be the only way to do that in the long run.
The ultimate test will be in Tandy’s case given the dire situation he will inherit. Reddin claims he wants to give Tandy the tools to succeed.
A team that says, “Well, we’re going to rock up and do our best,” said Reddin, “I don’t think anyone gets inspired by that,” said Reddin.
We have to be more ambitious than that, especially a rugby-fanatical nation like Wales. It is pointless because passion on its own is insufficient.
You must also get the other details right as well. If those things are done correctly, passion can take you somewhere special.
related subjects
- Welsh Rugby
- Rugby Union of Wales
- Wales Sport
- Rugby Union
